Description

The Nomad fears no trail.

The Santa Cruz Nomad X01 AM complete mountain bike represents the latest revision in the storied heritage of the Nomad. To this day, it's hard to say whether it's an efficient freeride bike or a long-travel trail bomber, but either way, it's a highly refined platform that specializes in riding fast, rough terrain. It starts with the new aluminum Nomad frame, which employs oversized hydroformed tubing for supreme stiffness and unrivaled confidence. The build kit consists of FOX suspension units, Shimano's venerable XT brakes, and hand-built wheels consisting of DT hubs and spokes laced to WTB rims. The drivetrain is SRAM's new X01 groupset, which employs a simplified 1x11 drivetrain that offers the same range as a traditional double chainring setup. Whether you're sessioning laps on a chairlift, or you've got your sights set on an all-day backcountry adventure, the Nomad won't hold you back.

It's coming up on two decades since Santa Cruz released the original Tazmon, so you could say that the boys from Nor Cal have some experience with aluminum. Naturally, said experience is plainly visible on the Nomad's hydroformed aluminum frame. The massive 1.5 head tube will handle any fork you like, and provides a solid junction for the oversized, hydroformed down tube and top tube. The gentle bow of the top tube and down tube dissipates impacts to greatly improve the strength of the frame. The burly oversized tubing in the rear triangle makes for a flex free ride. That stiffness is only aided by the 142x12mm rear thru axle. And while the aluminum Nomad isn't quite as indestructible in laboratory testing as its carbon fiber counterpart, it remains one of the strongest bikes on planet, making it perfect match for heavier, and more aggressive riders.

While the Nomad is undoubtedly optimized for going big and handling aggressive terrain, pedaling efficiency is still a top priority. And with the latest version of VPP handling the terrain, that's not an issue. It uses two counter-rotating links to achieve an optimal balance of firm pedaling and a smooth ride. Basically, the beginning stroke is controlled by the upper link, which starts the stroke in a high-leverage position for a supple ride over stutter bumps. As the suspension settles into the sag point, the lower link takes over control of the suspension, enabling the rear wheel to travel backwards, out of the way of impacts. The upshot to all of this is when the suspension is sitting at the sag point, it harnesses your pedaling forces to neutralize suspension movement, giving you a firm, efficient feel at the pedals. So, whether you're cranking out laps at the bike park, or hammering up a steep climb, your suspension works with you, not against you. And you'll find the same collet-style pivot hardware that has become standard across Santa Cruz's line up. That means that your pivots stay tight and are simple to service, even for home mechanics.

27.5 inch wheels have generated tons of attention as of late, but the Nomad stays true to its 26 inch roots, proving that the traditional wheel size is still ideal for aggressive riding. The chainstays are 17.4 inches long, which yields tons of high speed stability. That stability is further improved with the 67 degree head angle, which remains neutral at high speeds, without being cumbersome when the trail gets twisty. Plus, the cockpit is roomy, for use with a short stem and wide handlebars. Whether you're racing Enduro, riding DH, or just crushing miles on varied terrain, the Nomad won't hold you back.

As the name implies, the X01 AM build features SRAM's 11 speed X01 groupset. By using a massive 10-42 cassette, you're able to get a gearing range that's similar to a double chainring drivetrain, and you save the weight and complexity of a front shifter and derailleur. The concept has been proven at the highest levels of competition via SRAM's XX1 groupset, so the reliability and functionality leave nothing to be desired. Suspension duties are handled by FOX units front and back, in the form of a 34 TALAS fork, and a FLOAT CTD evolution rear shock. The fork employs FOX's FIT sealed damper for consistent performance on long descents, and the none-more-gold Kashima coating, in addition to travel adjust. The TALAS spring allows you to lower the fork to 110mm of travel for more responsive climbing, and lengthen it to the full 150mm of travel for descending. Speaking of which, Shimano's venerable XT brakes handle stopping duties. You'll find an Easton Havoc alloy handlebar and Truvativ AKA stem handling the steering, and the staff favorite Rockshox Reverb Stealth dropper post puts control of your saddle height at your fingertips. Rounding out the build kit is a hand built wheelset comprised of DT's legendary 350 hubs laced with DT spokes to WTB i23 tubeless compatible rims. They're wrapped in Maxxis High Roller II tires, which have developed a loyal following for their fast rolling and incredible grip across a broad range of trail conditions.

The Santa Cruz Carbon X01 AM complete mountain bike is available in four sizes from Small to X-Large, and in the colors Gloss Tennis Yellow, and Satin Black.